Fare evasion letter

[ladybird68]

On the 26th January I was caught using my brothers zip card. It was very silly of me and I am aware that the excuse that i had no where to top us is not a valid response. This is my first ever incident and I have never ever been involved in any other immoral actions till now. I am extremely remorseful and fear the consequences of a criminal record if i am convicted in court. Well i surely don't want to get to that stage and therefore I am willing to compensate the costs of TFL to avoid getting a criminal record which will absolutely ruin my chances of employment in the future. I am a 19 year-old-female , studying psychology at university and this may involve me working with children and other people which will involve them having to trust me! AND i am a generally trustable reliable person. I'm just so upset at how a silly one off mistake I made could stake the rest of my life. I have definitely learnt my lesson and now I'm more aware of the situation I'm in.
any help or advice? should i reply back to the letter they asked for comments of the day including an apology and asking to settle out of court or should i call them before sending off the letter? ps. i always use my student card to travel and this would be obvious when you check my history, i regularly top up and use my oyster to travel, and i hate to be judged upon one incident which i didn't which is obviously their job i am in no way condemning them for that but i am looked upon as a breacher and a criminal which i hate as till now i believe i have been a good citizen and haven't committed any other criminal acts. i have worked so hard to get to the position i have now, and I'm finally at university this would totally demotivate me to complete my studies knowing the difficulties of getting a job in the psychology sector already, this will make my chances even worse which I don't want to imagine. sorry about the length.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

Advice? Well it's hard to know what you want other than to put the clock back now that you've been caught out, or to have your excellent description of your fine principles eclipse the facts of your fare evasion when they come to be considered.

The first is, of course, impossible. And the second would be an expensive speech by a skilled Criminal Defence solicitor attempting to argue your mitigatng circumstances which might reduce the level of fine by £50 or even £100. Avoiding a Criminal Record will require some skill on their behalf - I doubt that will be achievable by yourself.

You should give a written reply statng the facts of the incident (not the facts of your student studies or self-assessment of citizenship). By not replying, you assure yourself of a Prosecution which would almost definitely succeed.
But to advise in any really meaningful way, there are some hard facts we'd need to be quite sure about:-
This wasn't the first time that you'd used your brother's card, was it?
What did you say to the Inspector during the interview?
What is the full value of all the fares you have underpaid?

 

[najaB]

This is my first ever incident...

Or do you mean it was the first time you got caught?

any help or advice? should i reply back to the letter they asked for comments of the day including an apology

Yes.

i always use my student card to travel and this would be obvious when you check my history, i regularly top up and use my oyster to travel

"I always buy my shoes, this was the first time I shoplifted" doesn't really count for anything, and neither does this.

I'm finally at university this would totally demotivate me to complete my studies knowing the difficulties of getting a job in the psychology sector already, this will make my chances even worse which I don't want to imagine.

It isn't, by any means, certain that you will get a criminal record.

 

[ladybird68]

Advice? Well it's hard to know what you want other than to put the clock back now that you've been caught out, or to have your excellent description of your fine principles eclipse the facts of your fare evasion when they come to be considered.

The first is, of course, impossible. And the second would be an expensive speech by a skilled Criminal Defence solicitor attempting to argue your mitigatng circumstances which might reduce the level of fine by £50 or even £100. Avoiding a Criminal Record will require some skill on their behalf - I doubt that will be achievable by yourself.

You should give a written reply statng the facts of the incident (not the facts of your student studies or self-assessment of citizenship). By not replying, you assure yourself of a Prosecution which would almost definitely succeed.
But to advise in any really meaningful way, there are some hard facts we'd need to be quite sure about:-
This wasn't the first time that you'd used your brother's card, was it?
What did you say to the Inspector during the interview?
What is the full value of all the fares you have underpaid?

Thankyou so much for such an intimidating response, it was a one off I always pay for my travel. I admit to making a mistake but surely I shoudlnt be treated like so or judged in such a way I thought these forums were to receive constructive criticism and advice from more knowledgable people regarding the topic.